Just how 'lucky' was Worcester in 2023? A look at the lottery numbers

Sarah Barnacle, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Updated ·4 min read
Drew Patel refills scratch tickets at Boski's Market in Worcester.
Drew Patel refills scratch tickets at Boski's Market in Worcester.

WORCESTER – As 2023 draws to an end and New Year’s resolutions are made, many take the time to reflect on the previous year. Was it everything you wanted it to be?

At the start of each year, many cultures take part in traditions to bring good fortune and luck in the coming year.  Some serve up good-luck foods, while others opt for wearing certain colors or decorating their homes in a way that ushers in luck and prosperity.

What are the odds of winning?

Despite feeling lucky, the chance of winning the lottery remains slim. In fact, the odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are approximately one in 292.2 million. When it comes to winning any prize, the odds are better, standing at about one in 24.9 million.

In November, the Massachusetts Lottery redesigned its Megabucks game to "bring more value to players, with better odds of winning, a higher average jackpot, and bigger payouts for all levels of non-jackpot prizes."

“The Megabucks game has been making millionaires in Massachusetts for over 40 years and we are excited about these enhancements that will result in more winners at all prize levels, including the jackpot,” said Mark William Bracken, executive director of the Lottery.

The largest jackpot in the Megabucks game series, $21.7 million, was split across eight winning tickets in October 1985, making it the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history at the time.

In October 2023, one lucky winner snagged a Powerball prize of $1.765 billion, the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history.

So just how lucky were Worcester residents in 2023?

Nearly 6,500 people bought winning lottery tickets in the city between Jan. 1 and Dec. 22, 2023.

In April, Robert Fitzgerald won a $1 million prize in the "$4,000,000 Mayhem" game.  He walked away with a one-time payment of $650,000 and said he plans to invest his winnings.  The winning ticket was bought at Shaw’s on Stafford Street.

Then in August, the Baalsha Family Trust of Quincy won a $1 million prize, taking home a one-time payment of $650,000.  The lucky ticket was bought at Edgemere Mini Mart on Mill Street.

The trust, represented by trustee David Spillane, opted to receive its prize in the form of a one-time payment of $650,000 before taxes.
The trust, represented by trustee David Spillane, opted to receive its prize in the form of a one-time payment of $650,000 before taxes.

Eight people are starting the new year $100,000 richer after winning tickets bought throughout the city.  And another nine people took home a cash prize of $50,000 over the last 12 months.

A whopping 6,435 people won cash prizes worth anywhere between $600 and $4,999 in the city in the last year.

So where do these winning tickets come from? More than 100 winning tickets were purchased at the Gateway Food Shop, located at 98 Millbury St., earning itself the title of selling the highest number of winners.

Nearly 20 businesses in Worcester sold 70 or more winning tickets throughout the year. At Boski's Market, located at 291 Burncoat St., 97 winning tickets were bought; 95 winning tickets were sold over at a gas station at 640 Park Ave.; and another 95 winning tickets were sold at the Gulf gas station at 528 Pleasant St.

Boski's Market owner Kenny Patel, center. his son, Drew, left, and nephew, Hershil.
Boski's Market owner Kenny Patel, center. his son, Drew, left, and nephew, Hershil.

"Definitely this year was the best year we've had so far, especially after the pandemic," Hershil Patel, manager of Boski's Market, said. "This year we sold a winning $50,000 ticket, it was our biggest winner."

Boski's has been in business for the last decade and while Patel said this year has been better for lottery sales, the market sold a winning ticket worth $100,000 in 2021 and 2022.

A year for the Lottery record books.

It isn't just Worcester seeing a boom in winners. The Lottery said this year has been one for the record books.

In September, State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg announced the organization had produced $1.193 billion in net profit for the 2023 fiscal year, which began on July 1, 2022, and ended June 30, 2023.

It is the highest net profit total in the Lottery's history.

What's more, revenues surpassed $6 billion for the first time, beating the previous record of $5.863 million set last year.

"With record numbers across the board, Lottery customers, our retail partners, and every city and town in the commonwealth were all winners," said Bracken.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Just how 'lucky' was Worcester in 2023?